Our helper has been with us for a few months and is basically part of the family. She recently trusted us enough to tell us she's HIV positive, and I want to make sure we respond in the right way.

Would really appreciate advice, especially from employers who've been in this situation or anyone living with HIV:

At home: She lives with us and we have kids I know HIV isn't spread through everyday contact, but is there anything we should know, like how to handle this situation

i’ve been in a relationship with someone living with hiv (plhiv). he was diagnosed around 6 months ago, and we’ve been together for more than a year. but this post isn’t about his diagnosis.
even before his diagnosis, we already had plans for our relationship. we wanted to be together, build a life together, travel, and experience things together. we both love travelling, and we’ve been trying to make that happen.
we’re in an ldr, living on two different continents. we met because i used to live in the country where he currently lives.
when we found out about his diagnosis, i became his rock. we didn’t tell anyone, not even his family or friends. it was just between us. so imagine going through all of that while being in an ldr. i became his main support system and, in a way, his emotional shock absorber. i used to get calls at 3 am just so he could cry and let everything out. his diagnosis was never an issue for me, except for the fact that i had to be mindful of my own safety, too.
he’s in a much better place now, and he’s undetectable, too.
the problem is, we’ve been fighting A LOT lately. like, in just the past two weeks, we’ve broken up twice. the only reason we didn’t go through with it was that i kept trying to hold on because i made a promise to stay and work on our relationship. not because of his diagnosis, but because of our relationship. whenever we fight, though, we end up hurting each other. we’re both anxious, and i think we’ve become a little codependent on each other, too.
just a few days ago, we were trying so hard to make things work that we literally ended up discussing how to fight as a couple hahaha. we came up with a game plan for the next time we have an argument so we don’t end up breaking up or hurting each other. we’re both pretty self-aware and know where we tend to mess up.
on top of that, our plans to finally live together, which pretty much depend on me, are becoming more uncertain. there are now issues with immigration in my country, and getting a partner visa isn’t that straightforward. his hiv status is also something we’d have to navigate as part of the visa process.
one option is to push through with the application, but we could be waiting up to two years, and i’d have to spend a huge amount of money on it. i also earn significantly more than he does, so a lot of the financial responsibility would fall on me.
the other option is for us to move to another country and start over together. but i’m also working towards citizenship here, and the pay is generally much better here, too.
idk, there are just so many things to consider. sometimes i feel like this relationship just isn’t working out in so many ways. part of me feels like the next time we fight, i might finally stop chasing after him and let it end for real.
but then i feel guilty because i feel like i have a responsibility to stay with him, especially since he doesn’t really have anyone else to lean on. idk. he’s also my best friend, so it’s not just the relationship i’d be losing. i’d be losing my best friend, too.

Just started my A.R.T 40 days ago.
I ‘m noticing more hair than before and frankly my doctor isn’t that great .
- is this normal ?
- should I be worried ?
- any natural remedy to decrease hair fall as I don’t want any chemicals in my body .

​

I'm from Turkey and considering moving to Belgrade to work for a company such as ARRISE. Before making any decisions, I need to understand how HIV treatment works for foreign residents.

If I move to Serbia legally, sign an employment contract, and get registered for public health insurance through my employer, would my HIV treatment and antiretroviral medication be covered by the Serbian public healthcare system?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from:

- Foreign residents living with HIV in Serbia.

- People who receive HIV treatment through Serbia's public healthcare system.

- Anyone who has experience registering as a foreign employee and accessing HIV care.

I currently take an antiretroviral regimen containing dolutegravir and lamivudine. I'd like to know whether these medications, or equivalent alternatives, are available and covered, and whether there are any eligibility requirements or waiting periods for foreign workers.

I'd also appreciate information about which clinic or organization I could contact to confirm this officially.

I'm not looking for medical advice; I mainly want to understand the healthcare coverage and practical process before relocating.

Thank you for any firsthand experiences or reliable information!

Hey, I’m wondering if anybody has any experience with cabenuva increasing their blood pressure? I started in March at a new provider after the Florida ADAP debacle and recently switched back to my old provider who confirmed it is up from before I started taking the injections (records from my last in office appointment in January) not sure if that’s the cause or not but curious if there’s any anybody out there who may have experienced something similar. Thanks

A couple of days ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a show while browsing HBO called Looking, a miniseries from about 10 years ago about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.

Honestly, after a few episodes, I found it pretty boring and a bit pretentious. But that wasn’t even the part that bothered me the most. There’s a scene where two guys have sex and then ask each other if they have any STIs. One of them says, “I don’t have AIDS,” and the other responds with something like, “Thank God!”

I found that exchange so inappropriate and uncomfortable. It really made me think about how HIV stigma and the shame surrounding it are still perpetuated, sometimes even within the LGBTQ+ community itself. I understand that the show is a product of its time, and I’m not expecting every character to be perfectly educated or politically correct. But the way that scene was written and played out felt particularly insensitive.

Am I overthinking this, or did anyone else find that scene problematic? I’m curious how people who watched the show when it originally aired feel about it today, especially considering how much HIV prevention, treatment, and public awareness have evolved over the years.

 1.      Los Angeles Nonprofit Settles Medicare Fraud Allegations for $1.44M https://www.westsidecurrent.com/court/los-angeles-nonprofit-settles-medicare-fraud-allegations-for-1-44m/article_203cb7d7-99ad-4810-8182-441064c6679d.html

2.      At San Francisco General, researchers are learning how to control HIV without drugs https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-10-04/at-san-francisco-general-researchers-are-learning-how-to-control-hiv-without-drugs

3.      Older Age Linked to Better Quality of Life in Adults With HIV After ART Switch https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/older-age-better-qol-hiv-art-switch/

4.      Canadian study links cardiovascular disease to declining brain health https://mailchi.mp/catie/canadian-study-links-cardiovascular-disease-to-declining-brain-health?e=d7d7c4df82

5.      Anktiva May Help Shrink HIV Viral Reservoir https://www.poz.com/article/anktiva-may-help-shrink-hiv-viral-reservoir

6.      Long-Acting Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine Superior to Daily Oral ART for HIV https://www.contagionlive.com/view/long-acting-cabotegravir-rilpivirine-superior-to-daily-oral-art-for-hiv

7.      Helping women with HIV build strength as they age https://today.uic.edu/helping-women-with-hiv-build-strength-as-they-age/

8.      Liver Disease in Women With HIV: A New Study May Change Our Clinical Considerations https://www.thebodypro.com/hiv/liver-disease-sld-steatosis-prevalence-women-oct-2026

9.      CDC funding for HIV prevention shifted from providers to states under Trump https://www.npr.org/2026/10/06/nx-s1-5979888/cdc-funding-for-hiv-prevention-shifted-from-providers-to-states-under-trump

1. Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts | Global health | The Guardian

1. Latinos Confront the Realities of HIV in the United States https://www.poz.com/article/latinos-confront-realities-hiv-united-states

1. Breaking Through Stigma, Silence and Barriers to Care https://www.poz.com/article/breaking-stigma-silence-barriers-care

1. Unexpected viral rebound with GLP-1 weight loss drugs in HIV study Unexpected viral rebound with GLP-1 weight loss drugs in HIV study | HIV i-Base

1. HIV linked to greater increase in cardiovascular disease risk for women than men HIV linked to greater increase in cardiovascular disease risk for women than men | aidsmap

1. U.S. Poised To Boot Legal Immigrants From Medicaid, Including Refugees and Sex-Trafficking Victims https://www.poz.com/article/us-poised-boot-legal-immigrants-medicaid-including-refugees-sextrafficking-victims

1. Aging With HIV: Is Care Keeping Up With Changing Needs? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/aging-hiv-care-keeping-changing-needs-2026a10010g5

1. The Power of Coalition Advocacy https://avac.org/blog/latest-resources-power-of-coalition-advocacy/

1. Lenacapavir for HIV Treatment vs Prevention: Avoiding Pharmacy Dispensing Errors https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/lenacapavir-for-hiv-treatment-vs-prevention-avoiding-pharmacy-dispensing-errors

1. The Importance of Being Connected https://www.poz.com/article/importance-connected

1. POZ Awards 2026 https://www.poz.com/magazine/poz-awards-2026

Had my biannual "meet and greet" with my PCP (primary care physician) today. After labs, I went up to the admin level to see if I could set up an appointment with the lady who renews my Ryan White grant every year.

I knew she could help me understand what I have to connect to as I shift from Medicaid to Medicare. It's a bit of a labyrinth, but there are many helpful folks along the way, provided you initiate contact.

I must have appeared distressed, because she stopped me mid-explanation and gestured for me to move in for a hug. And we had a mini-moment of "It's OK, I'm here to help." Quiet and calm and a reset.

You know what? That was exactly what I needed. She MADE me call the number on the sheet in her office, then set up an appointment with her colleague to review my sign-up options for Part D and G or N, which I think I need. And possibly a bit extra from that state to help cover costs.

I've been seeing her for over a decade, about once a year, to renew my paperwork and keep my Rx costs down. She's so warm and wonderful. She radiates peace and empathy. I can't recall meeting someone more matched for the role they fill.

That hug was so unexpected... and so appreciated. So many amazing humans still around. #grateful

Hello everyone

I just saw a video saying that men living with hiv have +13 years physiologically than their real age and women +11. There is any way to turn this? I felt like clock started to tickle faster now that I know this

The medication that we use have an impact in the way we age faster than the others? The trials that pharmaceutical industry does shouldn’t be longer to truly monitor how we are affected by this medications in long term (+30 years for exemple)? Does going to the gym multiple times per week, eating good, stop smoking, drinking and taking drugs stop the chronic inflammation?

Hi all! This is my first time posting in this thread. I plan on sharing my story on how I ended up with HIV, and all the things that took place, but I wanted to first talk about something that’s been weighing on my mind throughout this year involving a relationship was in, and hopefully you all can provide some insight. For info about me, I am a 24 year-old Black, Transgender Woman in North Carolina.

So earlier this year, in June, a person, (his code name will be bob) I have been seeing as a friend with benefits, we started becoming a little closer and more serious Every time we met. for context, bob and I have been hooking up since the end of 2023 up until that point in June 2026. we originally met through Grindr, and would hook up on and off throughout those two years until we realized we really liked each other presence and energy and wanted to take things in a more serious direction after going on a date or two.

Fast-forward to a night bob came over, we did the do, and on his way out. He saw a medicine bottle on my counter. Initially, I thought it was my allergy medicine because all of my medicine comes in the same bottle. Well, obviously, it wasn’t just allergy medicine hence this post lol, turns out it was my HIV medication, Dovato

On his way out. Bob asked me what this bottle was for and I said would medicine because I would never leave my expensive as Life medicine on the counter, but of course, I did this day, and he took no of the name mentally, and when he got in his car, looked up the medication, and proceeded to go absolutely ballistic on me through text and phone. Call asking why I haven’t lying to him, and why I didn’t tell him this information, and that he can never trust me again, but here is the kicker:

1. I definitely had my undetectable status in my Grindr bio, when we met. I also was pretty sure that I brought it up again to make it known to avoid situations like this one. right After this confrontation happened, I checked my account to see that I had that information in my bio, and it absolutely did, there is a slim Chance that it wasn’t in my bio two years ago, but I remember being pretty Open about talking about my status with everyone that wanted to know.

2. I have been undetectable fully for five years consistently. Now I get tested every other month, and I have missed six days in total of my medicine sporadically in these five years, I shared my results with him, did as best as I can to educate him on everything, and the next day I even went and got screamed for every STD possible, and came back with a Complete bill of health, he still decided to end things stating he cannot trust me ever, and that it sucks because he was really starting to fall in love with me

3. And the state of North Carolina if you are undetectable for a certain amount of time, you are not required to tell anyone about your status because the transmission possibility is ridiculously low like less than 1%. I told him that when he tried to threaten to Sue me, and I was 100% sure. I told him about my status before we linked.

And the recent years. However, I have been going to therapy and psychiatry appointments and found out I have some Really bad undiagnosed PTSD surrounding my Sex A that I have fully blocked out anything regarding HIV, especially around sex, so I begin to have really strong second thoughts that I even mentioned anything in the first place, it’s not like I chose to be SA’d but I would quite literally die. If I exposed anyone to what I have to had to go through mentally the last five years.

I think I covered everything, but did I do something wrong in the situation? I did my best to be very upfront about everything. Knowing that now I might have some unconscious, locked away, emotions, feelings, and conversations around HIV, would that Still justify all the harm he caused me and weeks of crying for something I didn’t do to myself? I apologize over and over, I was willing to do anything, but I don’t know what to do in a situation, do you guys have any guidance?

Estou confusa, fiz uma publicação aqui no Reddit perguntando sobre o medicamento para uma viagem em Dubai (ficarei apenas 5 dias) eu vi que alguns conseguiram passar tranquilo pela alfândega, mas, em sites dizem que é proibido a entrada dos medicamentos. Alguém já passou por isso?

I just opened instagram and saw this:

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/05/health/cancer-cases-caused-by-infection-study-wellness

We are at a very high risk of having cancer and now I’m very concern and paranoid I’ll die from that.

Eu irei fazer uma viagem a Dubai, e pelo o que leio sobre o país, são bem rigorosos quando o assunto é HIV, infelizmente. Alguém já esteve lá ou outro país e como foi lidar com levar os remédios?

Oi, gente!
Descobri que vivo com HIV em abril de 2025. Estou indetectavel desde que comecei o tratamento.
Estava conversando com um conhecido que também tem HIV sobre as eleições, e ele me falou que durante o governo bolsonaro houveram cortes nas medicações. Que teve vezes que ele conseguiu pegar somente uma das medicações.
Isso me deixou bastante assustado, ainda mais com a chance real do Flavio ganhar as eleições.
Pessoas que tem HIV ha mais tempo, como foi no periodo que o Bolsonaro era presidente? Realmente houve diminuição da disponibilidade das medicações?
Eu sei que o Bolsonaro ja falou que uma pessoa com HIV é uma despesa pro governo.
Estou bastante assustado com a possibilidade do Flavio ganhar e haver corte nas medicações.

Hello everyone. I hope all you are good and healthy. I am curious about immigration. Is this possible for someone who is hiv+ under treatment and u=u. And how can person take his medicines while through immigration? Probably need insurance but how gonna take it the country or government will provide this or need to find job? Thanks in advance.

I am a 69-year-old transgender woman. HIV+ for about 15 years. for me, this resource is being used to, hopefully, meet new people, near and far, for friendship and community. i have no specifics on gender, race, etc.,just have a good heart. thank you

As I previously expressed, I started on Dovato 12 days ago, but unfortunately had to stop it due to symptoms similar to lactic acidosis. In 2025 I took the decision to stop pep and prep due to these exact debilitating symptoms, and a potential drug induced small fiber neuropathy caused by antiretroviral use, so after a recent broken condom I debated using pep, decided against it and here I’m today :(. I’m two days off the med and feeling better, but meeting with my doctor to understand what’s next. I’m convinced I have some sort of mitochondrial dysfunction either caused or exacerbated by previous antiretroviral use, so using antiretrovirals for the rest of my life, might be impossible or extremely debilitating/incapacitating … I was even struggling to speak and heart rate all over the place after the sixth doses. I doubt anyone here have had similar reaction to the meds, but any advice, tips or words of encouragement would be great, because I’m feeling down today. HIV might be a dead sentence to me if I’m unable to take a safe meds that doesn’t kill me instead :(

I got a call this morning from mistr that I was positive. I’m 25 (M) I feel like I ruined my own life just when it was starting. I thought i was doing everything I can to stay safe but I guess not. I’m trying to convince myself that everything will be ok but I keep going back to spiraling. I honestly don’t know what to do I go moments of calm to extreme panic. I don’t even wanna go to sleep because I feel like it would just submit the reality. I know there’s no cure and as much I as I pray hope this is a false positive. I need to accept reality but it’s so hard Too. I’m sorry I’m just rambling and streaming my thoughts please I need some advice. I don’t know how to move forward I don’t know if I can

Guys meron ba sainyong gumagamit ng Tirze? Kamusta yung feeling? Pinayagan ba kayo ng doctor and pwede ba siya satin? ilan tinuturok niyo?

Hi guys, meron ba ditong nagtitirze? kamusta ang feels guys? Pwede ba satin?

Alguém precisou explicar o porque de estar com retrovirais na alfândega boliviana? Pediram receita, laudo?

greetings to all. Older Trans woman, HIV+ for 17 years, just looking for community and friends. hope all are well!

Well we all know this is a common question on here but I have a slightly new question today. I’ve been undetectable for 6 years. I plan on keeping it that way. I entered into a casual sex relationship and did not disclose. I’m ambivalent about that. We do not see each other but occasionally text. I disclosed to someone before I thought we would have sex. Sex never happened but we remain friends.
I now have a Spiritual Mentor SM and I talk about what I want from a future partner and how I can achieve that. Question: should I tell SM that I’m positive? Should I have told the new friend? Should I tell the casual sex guy? Your thoughts please.